Pherae (Greek: Φεραί) was a city andpolis (city-state)[1] in southeasternAncient Thessaly.[2] One of the oldest Thessalian cities, it was located in the southeast corner ofPelasgiotis.[3] According toStrabo, it was nearLake Boebeïs 90stadia fromPagasae, its harbor on the Gulf of Pagasae (Geography 9.5). The site is in the modern community ofVelestino.[4][5]
InHomer Pherae was the home of KingAdmetus and his wife,Alcestis, (whomHeracles went intoHades to rescue), as well as their sonEumelus (who was one of thesuitors of Helen and led the Achaean forces of Pherae andIolcus in theTrojan War) (Iliad 2.711; Odyssey 4.798).
Thucydides lists Pherae among the early Thessalian supporters ofAthens at the beginning of thePeloponnesian War (History of the Peloponnesian War 2.22). Toward the end of the warLycophron established a tyranny at Pherae. On his death his sonJason became dictator and by around 374 BC extended his rule throughout Thessaly. After Jason's assassination and that of his successor, Polydorus,Alexander ruled Pherae with great harshness until he was killed by his wife, Thebe, in 359 BC, and Thessaly was conquered by theThebans.Philip of Macedon conquered Pherae in 352 BC and subjected Thessaly toMacedonian rule.
In Roman times Pherae was conquered byAntiochus the Great of Syria in 191 BC, but lost it that same year to the Roman consul of the yearManius Acilius Glabrio (Livy 36.1-14). The famous Messeis spring (the spring of Kefalovryso atVelestino) was probably at Pherae (Strabo, Geography 9.5; Iliad 6.457).
39°23′03″N22°44′16″E / 39.384163°N 22.737728°E /39.384163; 22.737728
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